Steps to Switch
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General Issues
Number Portability (NP) means you can keep your current fixed (landline) or mobile (cellular) telephone number if you decide to change from one service provider (operator) to another, in Guyana. In short, it’s a process that allows you to change service providers without having to change your telephone number. So, switching between service providers won’t mean having to go to the trouble of advising all your friends, family, colleagues, customers and clients that your number has changed – it stays the same.
Porting is the term used by the operators (or service providers) to describe the process which moves your mobile or fixed/landline telephone number from one operator to another.
You will be able to use the Guyana LNP service from June 20, 2024. The Local Number Portability service is available to all fixed and mobile subscribers from the three (3) participating service providers; E-Net, Digicel and GTT.
No, numbers can only be ported between operators for the same service, i.e.ports can only be made between one mobile operator to another mobile operator and/or one fixed operator to another fixed operator.
There are no charges for you to port your number. All porting (or switching) charges will be met by the service providers/operators.
But there may be a cost for unlocking your handset, if you desire to use a locked handset with your new service provider, once you have ported your number. You may wish to check with your current provider if handset unlocking charges will apply before you start the porting process.
But there may be a cost for unlocking your handset, if you desire to use a locked handset with your new service provider, once you have ported your number. You may wish to check with your current provider if handset unlocking charges will apply before you start the porting process.
The Public Utilities Commission has published information on number portability on its website at www.puc.org.gy. You may also visit the Public Utilities Commission’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pucgy, email - pucommission@gmail.com or telephone the Public Utilities Commission at +592 226 7042 for more information.
Eligibility to 'Port' Your Number
Any post-paid fixed/ landline or mobile/ cellular customer, of the three participating service providers, whose number has not been barred or suspended from making outgoing calls, prior to the validation of the porting approval request.
“Post-paid” customers (Post-paid mobile or landline customers), may be refused requests to port by the current (donor) service provider if there is a net balance owing to the current (donor) provider at the time of the porting request (one or more bills have not been paid by the due payment dates and are still unpaid, or outstanding account balance exceeds the deposit (plus interest) made to current (donor) service provider.
Any pre-paid mobile/ cellular customer whose number has not been barred or suspended from making outgoing calls.
“Post-paid” customers (Post-paid mobile or landline customers), may be refused requests to port by the current (donor) service provider if there is a net balance owing to the current (donor) provider at the time of the porting request (one or more bills have not been paid by the due payment dates and are still unpaid, or outstanding account balance exceeds the deposit (plus interest) made to current (donor) service provider.
Any pre-paid mobile/ cellular customer whose number has not been barred or suspended from making outgoing calls.
Yes, in the following circumstance:
If your number has been barred or suspended from making outgoing calls for non-payment or any other reason, the port may be refused by your current operator. The operator you wish to move your service to may conduct usual credit checks and may require the payment of an appropriate deposit before providing service or, in some circumstances, may refuse to provide service to you, or
If you have an outstanding account balance which exceeds the deposit (plus interest) you made to your current service provider, the request to port can be refused until your balance has been settled with the service provider.
If your number has been barred or suspended from making outgoing calls for non-payment or any other reason, the port may be refused by your current operator. The operator you wish to move your service to may conduct usual credit checks and may require the payment of an appropriate deposit before providing service or, in some circumstances, may refuse to provide service to you, or
If you have an outstanding account balance which exceeds the deposit (plus interest) you made to your current service provider, the request to port can be refused until your balance has been settled with the service provider.
Provided that your number has not been barred or restricted from making outgoing calls prior to the validation of the porting approval request, you are eligible for porting. You will remain liable to pay any outstanding balance due to your current provider.
Under normal circumstances:
a mobile port will be completed within one (1) working day (i.e. excluding Sundays and public holidays) of completing your request.
a fixed port will be completed within five (5) working days (i.e. excluding Sundays and public holidays) of completing your request.
a mobile port will be completed within one (1) working day (i.e. excluding Sundays and public holidays) of completing your request.
a fixed port will be completed within five (5) working days (i.e. excluding Sundays and public holidays) of completing your request.
Mobile Porting only – The only disruption to your mobile service will be when you receive a text asking you to insert the SIM card provided by your new provider. This process should take around thirty (30) seconds and once your new SIM card is inserted and your handset is powered back up, your mobile service and number will have been ported.
Fixed Porting only - The porting process should not result in any noticeable interruption of your service whether for business or individual customers. However, business customers porting multiple telephone lines should discuss the porting process with their proposed new service provider, who may formulate a tailored porting process to ensure that business is not interrupted or inconvenienced.
Fixed Porting only - The porting process should not result in any noticeable interruption of your service whether for business or individual customers. However, business customers porting multiple telephone lines should discuss the porting process with their proposed new service provider, who may formulate a tailored porting process to ensure that business is not interrupted or inconvenienced.
The porting service only applies to the Fixed voice service. If you have broadband and other services with your current provider, these are not portable and if you intend to cancel these services then you will be required to separately contact your current provider to arrange the termination of these services and arrange for these services to be set-up with a new provider
No. Porting may happen on any business day.
Mobile Porting only - Your porting process can be cancelled with no charge before you send the validation SMS to the special porting number 07678, set out in step 5 of the porting process (above). Once that SMS has been sent however, the process cannot be aborted.
Fixed Porting only - Your porting process can be cancelled with no charge before you make the validation call to the special porting number +592 899 7678, set out in step 4 of the porting process (above). Once that call has been made however, the process cannot be aborted.
Fixed Porting only - Your porting process can be cancelled with no charge before you make the validation call to the special porting number +592 899 7678, set out in step 4 of the porting process (above). Once that call has been made however, the process cannot be aborted.
Proof of identity, either a national identification card, passport or driver’s licence.
Post-paid (mobile and landline) customers only – A copy of a recent fixed telephone bill from your current service provider. The name on the recent landline or mobile bill must match the name on the corresponding photographic identity document used to authorise the porting request. In the case of business accounts, proof of authorisation to deal with the account by the person submitting the request must be given.
Pre-paid or Post-paid Mobile customers only – the working handset with the number to be ported
Post-paid (mobile and landline) customers only – A copy of a recent fixed telephone bill from your current service provider. The name on the recent landline or mobile bill must match the name on the corresponding photographic identity document used to authorise the porting request. In the case of business accounts, proof of authorisation to deal with the account by the person submitting the request must be given.
Pre-paid or Post-paid Mobile customers only – the working handset with the number to be ported
What will Number Portability Cost You?
No.
There is no charge for you to port your number. All porting charges are met by the network service providers.
Not related to porting, however, note below that there may be contractual charges due as a result of ending your contract with your current service provider.
The charges applicable to your service after switching will be on the terms and conditions of your new provider, and you will now be on their network. As such, charges may be different from those of your previous service provider, including increased charges for making calls from your new network to numbers on your previous network.
You will receive a bill for your usage up to the time your number is ported to the new service provider, and your service terminated with your current service provider.
If you have not completed a minimum required term of the contract with your existing service provider, you may be required to pay the outstanding balance of monthly rentals due under the contract. You should investigate this carefully with your existing service provider before switching to avoid any surprises.
If you have not completed a minimum required term of the contract with your existing service provider, you may be required to pay the outstanding balance of monthly rentals due under the contract. You should investigate this carefully with your existing service provider before switching to avoid any surprises.
All contractual arrangements with your previous service provider are based on your service contract with that provider. You should investigate carefully the provisions regarding termination of service. Terminating a contract and porting your number should be treated no differently than termination without portability.
Service Issues
If your new service provider fails to meet promised quality of service, then you can reverse the porting (i.e. port back to your previous service provider) within fourteen (14) days of your porting having been completed. After that period has elapsed, you may not port the same number again (whether to your previous operator or to any other operator) for sixty (60) days after the port has been completed.
No. Your old service provider is not allowed to contact you during the porting process to try and persuade you to stay with them. Your old service provider is prohibited from contacting you with the intention or effect of encouraging you to return to them for re-sign up for their mobile/ cellular or fixed/ landline telephone services for a period of sixty (60) days following the completion of the porting process. However, your old service provider can contact you to recover outstanding payments.
Mobile Porting only - Messages which have been sent to you, but not delivered, may be erased. You will lose your old voicemail, SMS, MMS and other services, and you will need to set these up again with your new operator.
Fixed porting only - You may lose your old voicemail including messages. The porting service only applies to the Fixed voice service. If you have broadband and other services with your current provider, these are not portable and if you intend to cancel these services then you will be required to separately contact your current provider to arrange the termination of these services and arrange for these services to be set-up with a new provider.
Fixed porting only - You may lose your old voicemail including messages. The porting service only applies to the Fixed voice service. If you have broadband and other services with your current provider, these are not portable and if you intend to cancel these services then you will be required to separately contact your current provider to arrange the termination of these services and arrange for these services to be set-up with a new provider.
If there is any problem with porting or for any other query during or after the porting process, you should contact your proposed new service provider, who will coordinate the complaints process (even though the problem may not have been caused by that provider).